Australia will play for bronze for the first time ever at the Commonwealth Games after a heartbreaking one-goal loss to Jamaica in Saturday night’s semi-final.
Get all the latest netball news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!
Youngster Sophie Dwyer, in her Comm Games debut, had the chance to level scores after the final whistle but missed the shot as Jamaica held on for a shock 46-45 win.
And it sparked incredibly jubilant scenes in Glasgow.
While Jamaica now have the chance to win gold in back-to-back Commonwealth Games finals, it’s a horror result for Australia who back up against England tomorrow – with the chance to finish a lowly fourth.
The Diamonds had played in every Commonwealth Games final since the sport was introduced leading into Saturday’s clash, so when Dwyer couldn’t land the shot to send the match into extra time, it was a disastrous outcome.
“I have been there – that will haunt her for the rest of her life,” Aussie great Cath Cox said of Dwyer’s miss.
But Australia were lucky to even be in that position to go to overtime. In front of the Royal Family in the stands, the Diamonds were disjointed in attack and whistled out of the contest in defence in the worst outcome for coach Stacey Marinkovich’s side.
“I’m speechless!” Aussie great Kim Green said as Jamaica claimed victory.
Despite snatching the lead for the first time early in the fourth term, it fell apart for the world No.1 Australia as they coughed up ball repeatedly.
“It hasn’t quite sunk in yet,” Kate Moloney said post-match.
“Credit to Jamaica, they were great today.
“Super disappointed.”
Courtney Bruce gave the Diamonds a heartbeat in the final minute after winning ball back, but it wasn’t enough to keep Australia’s incredible run of netball dominance alive.
“That was a bloody good game!” Sunshine Girl Shanice Beckford said after the win.
“I’m excited!
“I’m happy we stuck true to the grind.”
Kiera Austin finished Australia’s best in attack with 22 goals at 96% while Cara Koenen landed 18/20.
For Jamaica, Romelda Aiken-George delivered 29/31 and Shamera Sterling-Humphrey had eight gains – six of those coming in the first half.
The pressure got to Australia early as they were guilty of forcing ball into Sophie Garbin and Kiera Austin, resulting in big defensive gains for Jamaica.
Aussie greats Cath Cox and Kim Green questioned if the decision to start Melbourne Vixens’ duo Garbin and Austin against what had been Adelaide’s premiership defence of Sterling-Humhrey and Latanya Wilson was the right call.
“I think it spooks them,” Green said of Jamaica’s defenders coming out on top.
“They’d be silly not to be a little nervous.
“They have to change what they are doing because clearly it didn’t work in the domestic league.”
The Diamonds defence was keeping them in the opening term – Courtney Bruce even shrugging off a big Romelda Aiken-George elbow to the head.
But that was just the start of Bruce’s pain as she racked up penalty after penalty – her first quarter tally more than the entire Jamaican side put together.
When Bruce didn’t move to set a penalty, instead claiming she was pushed into the post by Romelda Aiken-George, play was stopped for umpire Ken Metekingi to officially advance the call.
“That’s not the stuff you want to be embroiled in seven minutes in,” Cox lamented.
The woes in attack rolled on for the Diamonds as Austin had two shots on goal rejected by Sterling-Humphrey.
“You don’t want to suddenly be thinking about adjusting your timing,” Cox said of Austin’s mental struggle.
“The shooters will need to protect each other.”
By the first change it was Jamaica leading 13-10 – handing Australia their first opening quarter loss of the Games.
When the Diamonds coughed up ball just seconds into the second term, Marinkovich jumped by benching Garbin and introducing Cara Koenen.
And it was Koenen with the AFL-style grab off a lose Kate Moloney ball that helped keep Australia in touch.
“If that doesn’t inspire you … Cara Koenen beating those two defenders who we know are so good in the air,” Green praised.
Jo Weston was replaced midway through the term as Matilda Garrett got her earliest minutes when coming off the bench.
Two big wins from Bruce “saved the Aussies” late in the term as the game threatened to get away from the Diamonds in a disjointed attack.
They coughed up ball repeatedly, failed to put up shots and were clearly rattled by a smothering Sunshine Girls defence.
“Everyone needs to take a deep breath,” Green said.
By the main break, it was still Jamaica leading 23-21 – Sterling-Humphrey racking up six gains compared to the entire Diamonds’ team tally of five.
The third term belonged to Romelda Aiken-George as she defied her age to nail baseline drives and split second feeds.
“Talk about old dogs and new tricks!” Cox praised.
“Saw a gap on the baseline and went for it!
“Romelda Aiken-George is bringing a little bit of showtime!”
“All the tricks,” Green added.
That led to Bruce getting benched and Sarah Klau coming into the match and immediately disrupting play.
And despite the Aussie shooters refusing to go to post, instead playing it around and offering Jamaica chances to win ball back, they still drew level with just two minutes to go in the third.
When Nicole Dixon-Rochester tried to delay play by not taking the centre pass in the dying seconds, she was penalised and it allowed Australia to take the lead for the first time to start the fourth term.
Tensions continued to rise with Aussie coaches seen with hands on their heads after tight umpiring calls.
And when Liz Watson made the schoolgirl error of turning away from the ball – despite Aussie goalers refusing to go to post in the three previous quarters, Jamaica were back in control.
“The breathing room is back for Jamaica,” Cox said.
Bruce and Weston returned in the defensive circle and incredibly, Sophie Dwyer was brought on with the Diamonds trailing by just one with seven minutes to play.
“The movement that Austin provides, and I hope I’m wrong … When we’ve seen Dwyer come on it hasn’t been as fluid when Austin has been there,” Green said.
And only minutes after coming on court, Dwyer had the chance to send the match into overtime but couldn’t make the shot.
Kate Moloney was quick to get around the youngster with sideline vision showing several Aussie stars in tears as the reality of the loss sunk in.
Dwyer had only started one match the entire campaign for Australia, and played just a combined 27 minutes against Australia’s toughest two opponents in the Pool stage (England and South Africa).
Fellow youngster Georgie Horjus – who is a Super Netball teammate of Sterling-Humphrey and Wilson, was the only Diamond not to get any court time in the semi final loss. That’s despite her ability to play both WA and GA in what was a struggling Australian attack end.
The Diamonds now play England in the bronze medal match from 6pm AEST while Jamaica takes on New Zealand for gold from 10pm AEST.
STARTING SEVEN
AUSTRALIA: GS Garbin, GA Austin, WA Watson, C Moloney, WD Price, GD Weston, GK Bruce
JAMAICA: GS Aiken, GA Beckford, WA Grierson, C Plummer, WD Ward, GD Wilson, GK Sterling-Humphrey
#Adessonews seleziona nella rete articoli di particolare interesse.
Se vuoi leggere l’articolo completo clicca sul seguente link
Source link
